Latest @BleacherReport NBA Players Most Likely to Fill the 2024-25 Trade Rumor Mill—Markkanen likely exits the mill for the year today, but who else will we be discussing from now, possibly through the February deadline?https://t.co/28LSBUHMmy
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) August 6, 2024
D’Angelo Russell
The Lakers’ most significant offseason move was hiring JJ Redick as head coach. If Darvin Ham and injuries were the problem, L.A. may be better. But that’s a lot to ask of a rookie head coach with zero NBA bench experience (even as an assistant) and a roster that seems flawed (at least defensively in the backcourt and up front at center behind Anthony Davis).
Russell, 28, has been solid for the Lakers over the last year and a half, but his regular-season game hasn’t translated well to the playoffs. The team has explored moving him but hasn’t found a suitor (the guard opted into his final year at $18.7 million in late June).
Perhaps the team didn’t expect everyone to opt in (Christian Wood, Cam Reddish, Jaxson Hayes and Russell), but the team has a full roster of 15 guaranteed players at just under the NBA’s second apron of $188.9 million. While the Lakers don’t have a hard cap, any trade that adds salary (including via aggregation of player contracts) just isn’t feasible outside of taking on minimum players.
But the Lakers could look to reduce their payroll by trading Russell (perhaps paying a team like the Jazz, who still have cap room) in a two- or three-team trade that adds less-expensive talent to L.A.’s roster.
Other Lakers players who may be in the rumor mill this season include Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Wood and Reddish.